Fundraising is an important part of running a non-profit organization. Public fundraising is often critical. Government grants can also help organizations get much needed funding for the cause. Here are some things to know about government grants.
You can research the available government grants at the website grants.gov. Through this site, you can browse available grants based on the type of entities to which the grants are awarded. Search the category most relevant for your non-profit. You’ll also be able to see the application deadline and the requirements for receiving the grant. In some cases, you can also see what other non-profits have received the grant in the past, to better understand your likelihood of receiving money.
There is a great deal of competition for available government grants. It’s wise to hire a professional grant writer to assist you, at least on the first couple of grants to which you apply. Once you have a couple of grants completed, you will have a template to work from that can be tweaked for future opportunities. A grant writer will be able to help ensure you answer all the questions in a way that gives you the best chances of getting an award, and ensure that your grant application is complete and correct. These applications can be very tricky.
Be prepared to keep detailed records of how you use any funds received from government grants. You’ll be expected to provide documentation to prove how the money was spent, so that the government can ensure that such funds are only used for approved purposes. Be certain that you understand exactly how you can spend any grant money you receive, as the funds are often limited to specific types of expenditures.
If you have questions about how to manage a government grant in MN, talk to a charity attorney. These attorneys are specialists in handling non-profit issues.
